title: Robotic distal pancreatectomy: a valid option?
abstract: Although reported in the literature, conventional laparoscopic approach for distal pancreatectomy is still lacking widespread acceptance. This might be due to two-dimensional vision and decreased range of motion to reach and safely dissect this highly vascularized retroperitoneal organ by laparoscopy. However, interest in minimally invasive access is growing ever since and the robotic system could certainly help overcome limitations of the laparoscopic approach in the challenging domain of pancreatic resection, notably in distal pancreatectomy. Robotic distal pancreatectomy with and without spleen preservation has been reported with encouraging outcomes for benign and borderline malignant disease. As a result of upgraded endowristed manipulation and three-dimensional visualization, improved outcome might be expected with the launch of the robotic system in the procedure of distal pancreatectomy. Our aim was thus to extensively review the current literature of robot-assisted surgery for distal pancreatectomy and to evaluate advantages and possible limitations of the robotic approach.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Visceral and Transplantation Surgery Department of Surgery University Hospital of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland - minoa.jung@hcuge.ch.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Buchs
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Azagury
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morel
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D019520:Living Donors; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012371:Robotics / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013154:Spleen; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors